Libertarian again running for 1st District congressional seat

KENOSHA—Libertarian Joseph Kexel of Kenosha announced Monday he would again run for the 1st District congressional seat held by Republican Paul Ryan.

Kexel ran for the seat in 2008 and 2010. He won about 1.7 percent of the vote in 2010. He ran for U.S. Senate in 2012.

Kexel would face Ryan and the Democratic nominee in the Nov. 4 election. Democrats will choose between Amar Kaleka of Oak Creek and Rob Zerban of Kenosha in the Aug. 12 primary.

Kexel said in a statement that balancing the federal government's budget is his top priority.

“It seems most politicians are just attempting to offer lip service to the public regarding this very serious issue. Sounding like you care and actually doing something about it are entirely different things,” according to the statement.

Kexel said he would reduce the size and scope of the federal government, adding that the Constitution does not authorize many existing federal programs. Those programs should be left to the states, he said.